The Southwest Yoruba Integrity Group has warned against acts that can undermine gains of establishing a regional security network agency, codenamed “Amotekun Corps” in tackling security challenges in the zone.
The group noted that it is only enemy of the yoruba people that would be working or talking down on Amotekun in any of the states in the zone especially in Ondo state where the security network has been very effective in collaborating with other conventional security agencies to reduce kidnappings, herders/farmers clashes and other crimes to the bearest minimum.
The National Coordinator of the organization, Dr Ayodeji Fashina and the National Secretary, Mr Kazeem Olorunfemi, stated this in a Press Statement made available to newsmen in Akure, the Ondo state capital at the weekend.
Reacting specifically to the recent withdrawal of Army check points on roads in Ondo State, the group called on President Muhammadu Buhari and military authorities to caution some security men who are using their ethnic biases to unduly fight Amotekun Corps to desist or face mass protest from the youths and women in the Southwest zone.
The Statement reads, “the recent withdrawal of military Check points in Ondo State, we want to appeal to military authorities, particularly President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene on the issue so that the issue of ethnic politics will not be brought into the nation’s security apparatus.
“It is unfortunate that some security officers are allegedly undermining security situation in Ondo State simply because of the existence of Amotekun corps.
“Amotekun corps has been in the fore front in collaboration with other security agencies, they have been trying their best in ensuring that people of Ondo State are sleeping with their two eyes closed.
“We must encourage community policing that is being provided by Amotekun in Ondo State. We want to appeal to the military authorities, the police and other security agencies to collaborate and to see Amotekun as partner in progress of securing the society, the people of Ondo State appreciate the military, the Amotekun and other security agencies, they are doing their best to ensure that we are sleeping with our two eyes closed.
“We want to appeal to the politicians not to politicize the situation, the Governor, as the Chief Security Officer of the state, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, he knows how to handle the issue. He will at appropriate time handle the situation and given that security issue is not an issue that should be politicized.
“We know what is happening across the country today and we all agree that prior to the formation of Amotekun, it was not that rosy, particularly in the southwest, the issue of herdsmen/farmers clashes that has been reduced drastically and everybody is happy in Ondo State.
“We are not there yet, but at least to a reasonable level, we believe that the security apparatus both conventional security agencies and Amotekun corps are trying in Ondo State, but we warn against bringing ethnic colouration into operations of some security agency, this is a dangerous trend that we must all speak against.
“We equally appeal to political class not to politicize the issue of military checkpoints withdrawal in Ondo state, if there is any issue, the Head of the military in Nigeria and the Governor of Ondo State should come to a roundtable and resolve the issue amicably in the interest of our people, but what we will not take is any act that could destroy very effective operations of Amotekun corps.
“Nobody should politicize security situation and nobody should attack Amotekun corps unnecessarily that will discourage their men who are on the daily basis, day and night are in strategic areas to secure the people of Ondo State in collaboration with other security agencies.
“We appeal to all stakeholders to maintain the decorum to ensure that the security of the people are not jeopardized and the federal government should see the need to increase funding of the Nigerian Army formations in the Southwest region to enable soldiers perform their duties effectively,” the statement reads.
